Tennis net



SGP- 3Q, 41941. R. s. BUNKER 2,257,635

' TENNIS NET Filed June 17, 1940 INVENTOR, BY We y ce 'S'. Bwdre r, I

ATTQRNEY.

Patented Sept. 30, 1941 4julylrigo STATE s PAT ENTl OFFICE A 7 Claims.

. 'In my application Serial'No. 340,482 a Vnet of the class of tennis nets is set forth in which, given a strip to form the top-band and the net proper, these parts are connected by an elongated coupling element, as `a flat band or tape, which traverses the net in at least a generally horizontal direction and exists threaded through the strip and the upper marginal portion of the net proper. In the example therein set forth the threading of said element through the strip involves exposure of said element at intervals.

This I avoid by the present invention. In other words, whereas in accordance therewith as also in the case of that of my said application and of my other application` Serial No. 338,711. I avoid stitching the net proper to the top-band, the top-band-including portion ofthe present net has the same outward appearance as the corresponding portion of the conventional net. Other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a fragment of the upper portion of the improved net;

Fig. 2 is a similar View, with the top-band partially in open state;

Fig. 3 is a section lengthwise and through the threading holes of the top-band of Fig. l;

Figs. 4 and 5 show the blank for the top-band of Fig. 1 in respectively unfolded and partly folded state;

Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views of the blank used in a modified form of the net;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 of such modified form; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the top-band and cable.

The net proper includes upright strands l and horizontal strands 2 forming mesh openings 3 and knotted together at their crossings, and side bands 4 to which the horizontal strands are suitably connected, as by stitching.

An elongated coupling element traverses the net at least generally horizontally, but in the example actually without substantially deviation from` the horizontal, being threaded back and forth through the openings 3 of the upper marginal portion of the net proper.

To form the top-band according to the example shown by Figs. l to 3 a length a (Fig. 4) of flexible sheet material, as white duck, is folded on lines b -b so that its longitudinal marginal portions lap each other as shown in Fig. 5, and also folded on the median longitudinal line C,

this line being so disposed that the latter folding affects both such marginal portions and the portionxof the blank initially `between them. Thus (Fig. 9) the top-band will exist with two exterior plies 1 and two interior plies 8 each of the latter having its edge portion 8a rebent. They here all exist interconnected by being parts of a single blank. So much is true of the top-band whether existing as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 or in Fig. 8. 'Ihe outer plies 1 form what I have termed the concealing plies. The inner plies 8 form the plies to which element 5 is connected. For this purpose they are formed at intervals having the same spacing as the center-to-center spacing of the openings 3 of the upper marginal portion of the net proper with apertures which inthe form shown by Figs. 1 to 3 are holes 9, here round, having appreciable area and in the form shown by Figs. 6 to 8 are transverse slits l0. After the folding on lines b-b each inner ply is preferably stitched to the corresponding outer ply, as at d.

The top-band being in straddling relation to the upper marginal portion of the net proper the coupling element, traversing the net horizontally, exists threaded through the inner plies and said marginal portion of the net proper in alternately opposite directions and the outer plies serve to conceal said element. In the example the threading exists without substantial up or down deviation. When it has been accomplished and the coupling element has been put in the same extended state as the net proper its ends may be made fast to the top-band in any way, as by the stitching H by which, as usual, the side bands are attached to the top-band.

One advantage in forming the top-band by folding a suitable length or blank in the manner herein set forth is the circumstance that a plurality of layers of the material, instead of only one, exist where the top-band stands bent around the cable 6, wherefore the top-band not only is better adapted to withstand the weight imposed on it butis less subject to wear.

Having thus `fully described my invention, what I claim is: p

l. A net of the class described including a net proper, a horizontal supporting top-band consisting of a unitary length of flexible sheet material folded on a longitudinal line and straddling the upper margin of the net proper and having each longitudinal marginal portion folded inward and upward thus to form an inner lap and an outer ply, and an elongated supporting element for the net proper traversing the latter in a generally Vhorizontal direction and existing threaded at intervals through the lap-forming portions independently of said plies and also at such intervals through the openings,` Vindependently of the strands, of the net proper.

2. The net set forth in claim 1 characterized by at least one of said marginal portions of said strip having a longitudinal fold in coincidence with said longitudinal line of folding said strip.

3. The net set forth in claim 1 characterized by said marginal portions of said strip lapping each other and being folded in coincidence with said longitudinal line of folding said strip. v

4. A net of the class described including a net proper, a supporting top-band-'forming striprofk sheet material straddling the upper margin of the net proper with its lengthwise dimension extending lengthwise of such margin, said strip having an inner and an out-er ply at each side of the net proper and spaced openings in each inner ply arranged in a series extending lengthwise of such inner ply and covered by the outer ply, and an'elongated flexible supporting element for the net proper existing threaded through said openings and the openings of and adjacent the top margin and independently of the strandsof such net proper, said element forming the direct supporting medium for the net proper and, as so threaded, extendingin one direction through any one opening, and next in the opposite direction through the next succeeding opening, of at least one inner ply.

5. The net set forth in claim 4 characterized by said element extending in one direction through any one opening and next in the opposite direction through the next succeeding opening of each inner ply.

6. The net set forth in claim 4 characterized by each inner ply forming an inwardly and upwardly folded extension of the outer ply at the same side of the net proper as such inner ply.

7. The net set forth in claim 4 characterized by each inner ply forming an` inwardly and upv Y ROYCE S. BUNKER. 

